HRL composes ELGAR to improve G-band electronics
DARPA is keen to explore the potential offered by the G-band at 110-300GHz. (Photo: DVIDS)
HRL Laboratories has received a $9.36 million contract from DARPA to work on the Electronics for G-band Arrays (ELGAR) programme.
ELGAR seeks to develop the integration technologies needed to create compact, high-performance RF electronics, including monolithic microwave/millimetre-wave integrated circuits and transmit and receive array front-end test articles, to enable communication and sensing systems at G-band frequencies.
Work is expected to be completed by January 2024.
In its original Broad Agency Announcement document, published in September 2021, DARPA noted a ‘growing, insatiable thirst for information’ in the commercial and defence communications sector, with a drive towards ‘increasingly higher data rates and wider bandwidths of operation’.
As a result, higher operating frequencies are required to support larger bandwidths (such as 5G and 6G telecommunications).
The upper millimetre-wave band, known as G-band (110GHz to 300GHz), represents an ‘attractive, underutilised portion of the EM spectrum for high data rate communications applications’, DARPA noted, adding that the G-band above 200GHz is ‘particularly appealing’ for military communications given its low level of atmospheric interference.
However, adequate RF electronics have not yet been developed to support operation in this frequency band, particularly for SWaP-constrained applications.
In particular, the efficiency of G-band electronics is poor ‘and must be addressed to make G-band systems viable’, DARPA noted.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
Thales lands second major European order for SquadNet soldier radios
Austria has followed Belgium in selected Thales' SquadNet tactical radios for its armed forces.
-
EU Commission invites tenders for new satellite constellation with military applications
The European Commission has launched an invitation tender for a contract to implement the EU satellite constellation dubbed IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite).
-
New US developer LightRidge to take on air and space sensor markets
The private-equity backed firm combines the businesses of space payloads specialist GEOST and airborne sensor manufacturer Ophir.
-
Northrop Grumman to commence work on MESA sensors for US Air Force E-7 AEW fleet
The USAF will become the fifth operator of the E-7/MESA combination following Australia, Turkey, South Korea and the UK.
-
Northrop Grumman details bid for US Navy TACAMO aircraft replacement
The company believes its role as prime contractor on the E-2 Hawkeye puts it in a strong position for the programme to replace the USN's Boeing E-6 Mercury fleet.
-
Northrop Grumman hones US Space Force satellite design in virtual environment
The company has applied its Highly Immersive Virtual Environment technology to the design process of polar overwatch satellites ordered by the US Space Force.